Quick Facts
Exposure: Full Sun
Height at Maturity: 40-60 Feet
Usage:
Shipped As:
Planting Zones: 5-9
Product Details
For land managers who want acorns on the ground in years rather than decades, sawtooth oak seedlings (Quercus acutissima) are the go-to choice. Sawtooth oak is an East Asian oak introduced to the United States, and it is planted across the Southeast and Midwest for food plots, hunting land and wildlife programs because it grows fast and bears heavy acorn crops at a young age. We sell bulk sawtooth oak seedlings bare root in 12-18 inch and 18-24 inch grades, in bundles of 100, 500 and 1,000.
Why Food Plot Planters Choose Sawtooth Oak
- Early bearing: Trees commonly begin producing acorns within 5 to 8 years of planting.
- Fast growth: One of the quickest-growing oaks available as seedlings.
- Heavy crops: Abundant, consistent acorn yields once trees mature.
- Early drop: Acorns typically fall in early autumn, drawing deer and turkey to plots at the start of the season.
Sawtooth Oak Specs
| Botanical name | Quercus acutissima (sawtooth oak) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Eastern Asia (China, Korea, Japan); introduced to North America |
| Family | Fagaceae (beech and oak family) |
| USDA zones | 5 to 9 |
| Mature size | 40 to 60 feet tall, rounded crown 40 to 60 feet wide |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, acidic to neutral; loam, clay loam and sandy soils |
| Leaves | Glossy, chestnut-like, edged with bristle-tipped teeth |
| Acorns | About 1 inch, in a shaggy, fringed cap |
| Grades / bundles | 12-18 inch, 18-24 inch; 100, 500, 1,000 |
Designing a Sawtooth Oak Mast Plot
Hunters and wildlife managers plant sawtooth oak in small groves along food plot edges, field corners, logging roads and power-line openings, where full sun drives growth and acorn yield. A cluster of 10 to 25 trees near a stand location creates a dependable early-season feeding area. Larger plantings in rows on old fields give deer, wild turkey, squirrels, wood ducks and quail a steady food supply. Pair sawtooth with later-dropping native oaks to stretch the acorn season.
Spacing for Mast Production
| Layout | Spacing | Trees per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Orchard-style mast grove | 20 x 20 ft | About 110 |
| Food plot border row | 15 to 20 ft in the row | Linear |
| Wildlife block planting | 12 x 12 ft | About 300 |
Wider spacing lets each crown spread in full sun, which is what drives heavy acorn crops.
Shade and Landscape Uses
Beyond wildlife work, sawtooth oak makes a fast, adaptable shade tree for farms, estates and parks. Glossy summer leaves turn yellow to golden brown in fall, and the tree holds up in heat, clay and urban soils. Contractors use it where a quick-establishing oak canopy is the goal.
Round Out a Wildlife Planting
Combine sawtooth oak with Chinese chestnut seedlings for another early, heavy nut crop, persimmon for fall soft mast, and native white oak or red oak for long-term mast. Find more fruit and nut options in our fruit trees collection.
Sawtooth Oak Seedling FAQs
How soon do sawtooth oaks produce acorns?
Sawtooth oaks often begin bearing within 5 to 8 years, much sooner than most native oaks.
How fast do sawtooth oak seedlings grow?
Sawtooth oak is a fast-growing oak, commonly adding 2 feet or more a year on good, sunny sites.
Where does sawtooth oak come from?
Sawtooth oak originates in eastern Asia and has been planted across the U.S. for wildlife and shade for decades.
How far apart should sawtooth oaks be planted for deer?
For maximum acorn production, plant 20 feet apart in full sun, about 110 trees per acre.
When do sawtooth oak seedlings ship?
Sawtooth oak orders ship in November, dormant and bare root.
Do you offer pricing on large wildlife plantings?
Yes. Submit a wholesale pricing request for a project quote.
Shipped Fresh from Altamont, Tennessee
Tennessee Wholesale Nursery is TN Nursery's wholesale division, family-owned since Roscoe Tate founded it in 1959. Our farm covers 170 acres in Altamont, Tennessee, and History Channel's Troy Landry of Swamp People buys from us. Sawtooth oak seedlings are lifted dormant, root-dipped in Terra-Sorb hydrogel and sealed in bundles that stay moist for up to 12 days. See how we package our plants.